Rhodack cursed and peered at his surroundings. His entire gargoyle form was frozen in stone. The bastards had propped him on the ledge of their hidden lair built deep in the mountains.

When he’d come to, the sun was high in the sky, and his gargoyle body was complete stone. He’d been left trapped entirely within himself the whole day. The two demons had come out to check on him, teasing him, laughing at him, taunting him.

Once the sun went down, it would be he who laughed next.

It had given him much time to plan killing the two demons. He didn’t know how many more were in the building but he’d kill them all and send them to one of the seven hells.

Then he’d go after Rina.

He could have sworn her voice had echoed in his head. Hours ago, as the sun had beamed down on him, her soft voice had called to him.

“I’m coming for you, Rhodack. Hold on. We’re coming for you.”

It didn’t make sense. Had she somehow made it back to the clan’s lair? Was she safe?

He released a growl, not liking the unknowns that floated around in his mind. If she had made it back then he knew Vikuth would do what he needed to ensure she didn’t leave the lair again.

He glared at the sun as it began to make its descent beneath the horizon.

“I hope you didn’t think we would just let the sun go down and you’d be free?” Geica smiled.

He moved his eyes to find them making their way toward him. He prayed the sun would hurry its ass on and go down.

Unable to answer her, he glared daggers at her.

“The masters will be arriving soon, and we’ll give them your princess, packaged with a bow on her,” Geica announced. She walked to stand in front of him.

He caught a glimpse of her whip that she had on her hip. He met her black eyes and ensured the rage he felt was evident.

Female demons were unlike gargoyle females. Gargoyles could shift into their human bodies when they decided. Demons didn’t have the ability to change their appearance. Her dark skin, black eyes, and horn on her forehead was her everyday appearance. Unlike gargoyles, they didn’t have wings.

“This realm will be consumed by the masters.” She waved her hand toward the sky as a smile graced her lips. “Just imagine, gargoyle. Don’t look at me with murder in your eyes. We are one and the same.”

Bullshit, he wanted to growl. Gargoyles were nothing like demons. It was a direct insult to his people to be confused with the likes of a demon.

“Don’t you want to save your people? Give us the princess, and the masters will spare gargoyles. You can have a place in their armies right beside us demons.”

A growl resonated in Rhodack’s throat as he glared at her. She stood before him, trailing her fingertips down his stone chest.

“You harness such power. It would be wasted on that little elf.”

Rhodack imagined his arms breaking free from his stone prison and wrapping his hands around her neck. He’d have great pleasure in squeezing the life out of her.

He glanced over her shoulder to see the sun inching closer to the horizon.

“I can feel your power and I know we’d be good together.”

Never, he said in his head, her hand tracing his pectoral muscles. The only female for him was a blonde little elf with a heart as pure as gold. Just the thought of Rina had him straining to free his body.

He had to get to her.

“Geica!” Ol’gon’s voice appeared off in Rhodack’s blind spot.

The female stepped back from him, the smile still lingering on her lips. She didn’t even try to hide her attraction to him. “I’m trying to convince Rhodack to hand us the princess to make it easy on him and his people.”

“Is that so?” Ol’gon reached her side, doubt etched on his face. “Doesn’t look like you’ve been successful at convincing him. He still looks as if he wants to kill you.”

Rhodack grunted in agreement.

“Well, we’ll see how he acts when the masters arrive. They’ll wipe out this realm, and he’ll be begging to take me up on my offer.” Geica shrugged and moved to allow Ol’gon to stand before him.

Rhodack latched his stare on to the large demon and willed a talon to move.

The sound of stone scraping filled the air. Rhodack grinned internally—the spell of the sun was wearing off his body. Soon, he’d break free of his stone prison and kill these two demons.

“You think that once you’re free, we’ll just let you fly off? Not happening.” Ol’gon opened his fist in front of Rhodack’s face and blew a powdery substance.

Rhodack coughed from inhaling the substance. His body transformed from stone to his gargoyle flesh. He fell to his knees, his body racked with more coughing.

“What the hell have you done to me?” he asked between coughs. The air wheezed through his lungs as he fought the cough. A tightness gripped his chest, and he spat out dark phlegm.

“Made you a better warrior. Now stand,” Ol’gon ordered, bracing his feet apart.

Rhodack roared, fighting the command, his body on autopilot. He stood from the ground.

“What have you done to me?” he repeated, snarling as he straightened, but his body wouldn’t follow any of his commands. He tried to reach his arm up to grasp Ol’gon by the neck but was unable to. His arm stayed by his side.

It was as if he were a puppet and Ol’gon controlled the strings.

“Necromancer magic is amazing. From this moment on, your body will be under our control.”

Rina walked alongside Vikuth and his men. They escorted her through the lair. They had entered a part of the underground channels she’d never seen before.

“Where are we going?” she asked, keeping up the fast pace the larger gargoyles had set. As if sensing that her legs weren’t as long as theirs, Vikuth slowed up and glanced over at her.

“We’re going to the communications bank. With us not knowing how the necromancers knew that your parents were going to arrive here in the realm, we need to use the most secure communications to reach out to the other clans.”

“How many other clans are there?” she asked.

“There are six others spread out around the world. When those misted beings began showing up, three other cities had reported the same kind of breaches through their portals.”

“Will they help us in the fight against the necromancers?” Her question was met with growls from the other gargoyles behind her. She paused and turned to Vikuth.

His eyes zipped to his men. Even though they were all in their human forms, their powers brimmed just beneath the surface.

She didn’t see the problem with her question. “It’s a valid query. Someone is leaking information to the necromancers.”

“Gargoyles have long protected this realm. For as long as time has existed,” Vikuth hissed through clenched teeth.

“Not for as long as time has existed.” She shook her head and looked to him and the two men with them.

Shock registered on their faces, and they stared at her as if she’d grown another head.

“What do you mean?” he asked, his body becoming still. His eyes searched hers.

“There was a time that gargoyles lived in Faery. They were the protectors of the crown. It was the Faery King’s decision to put gargoyles here on Earth. This world was not strong enough to protect itself and needed a race of guardians who were strong enough to be their protection.”

“The gargoyle protectors,” Vikuth murmured.

She nodded, relieved he understood the purpose his race had played in Earth’s history.

“How do you know this?” one of the men asked.

Vikuth held up his hand to the guard. “Rina, where did you hear this?” he demanded.

She searched his eyes and knew she’d be able to trust him with her life if need be. He was friends with Rhodack and was his second-in-command. Hell, he’d saved her.

Vikuth could be trusted.

“Last night, I had a vision. I was in Faery and was speaking to who we call The Wise One—”

“Vulen,” Vikuth breathed, cutting her off.

She nodded, relieved she didn’t have to explain who Vulen was. “Yes, he reached out to me and brought my mind to meet him in Faery.”

“But why would he choose you? How did he do that? You didn’t leave the room. I ensured that—” he stopped abruptly and pursed his lips.

She knew instantly it was he who’d sent Calista, Ajuki, and Manga to her.

“My restful period that you allotted me caused my mind to fall into such a peaceful state where he was able to reach me through my dreams.”

Vikuth nodded and waved her on as they walked down the dark passage. Sconces lined the wall, providing light while they continued on their journey. They followed the maze of passages until it opened into a massive grand hallway.

She spun, looking around the area. A bustle of creatures of all kinds rushed past. Paranormals of many types openly moved through. Stands had been set up as if they were in a market.

“Where are we?”

“This is the central part of the lair. This is the Market Place, were paranormals can come sell, buy, and trade. We’re a people who cannot go out in the daylight. We have basically created cities beneath the Earth’s surface,” Vikuth remarked, glancing around the market with pride.

“This is amazing,” she breathed as she took in all of the vendors and made a mental note to return.

Delicious smells filled the air, and her stomach rumbled, reminding her she’d skipped breakfast. The sounds of music and laughter tinkled. It was an area where paranormals could gather and be themselves. No need to hide from the humans.

“Come on.” Vikuth grabbed her by her elbow and led her toward a tunnel away from the market.

They rushed by vendors, who called out, trying to gain their attention.

She was whisked past the tables and paused at the entry of the hallway, her name being shouted.

“Princess!” A familiar voice.

She turned. Avalena stalked her way to her with three other women Rina hadn’t seen before.

She braced herself upon seeing the fury on the female’s face as she approached her. Rina held up a hand, preventing Vikuth from moving in front of her.

No, she could fight her own battles.

“What is it, Avalena?” she demanded with a calm voice. She refused to step down to the level of the female gargoyle.

“It’s your fault he was captured!” she shrieked, throwing herself at Rina.

The other two women grabbed her by her arms, and she fought against them. “Rhodack would be here if it wasn’t for you.”

The area near them quieted, attentions turned to them. Rina met the curious eyes of those who’d paused to see what the shrieking was for.

“I will get him back,” Rina vowed, meeting the eyes of those who stared at her with a curious nature. She refused to back down from the woman whose eyes held a hatred for her.

“You don’t belong here, princess.” Avalena still struggled against the other women’s grips. “You will leave if I have to—”

“Chose your words very wisely.” Vikuth pushed past Rina and planted himself in front of her.

“But she—”

“Is your lord’s mate,” he hissed, grabbing the flailing woman by the neck. Her body instantly stiffened. “You threaten the princess, you threaten Rhodack and Clan Gahnoth.”

Avalena paused and met his eyes before looking away. His grip on her neck was tight as the crazed woman’s eyes turned to her. Hatred still brimmed in them while she glared at her.

“Dese, Manea, and Cyan, are you sure you want to go down this road?” he asked the other women, while Avalena dangled from his outstretched arm.

“We didn’t know she was the mate to Rhodack.” The first female hung her head and stepped away from Avalena.

The other two shook their heads with widened eyes, and they, too, distanced themselves from her.

“Avalena just told us she was a new addition to the harem,” the second one cried out, her saucer-like eyes pleading with Vikuth. “I swear we didn’t know she was Rhodack’s mate.”

“Please forgive us.” The third one looked directly at Rina. “We didn’t mean any harm. We would never harm Rhodack’s mate.”

“You three, leave,” Vikuth barked before Rina could respond.

They jumped and scrambled away. They disappeared into the crowd without a glance back at them.

“Princess, what do you want me to do with her?”

Rina had to keep her mouth from hitting the ground. She stood frozen. He wanted her to make a decision on what to do with Avalena?

“As the mate of our lord, it will be your decision on her punishment,” one of Vikuth’s men murmured behind her.

“Banishing her would be the ultimate disgrace,” the other one said. “She’d no longer be welcome in the clan. She’d be cast out to live amongst the common gargoyles and lose her position.”

“That would be too lenient for Rhodack,” the first one chuckled.

Rina glanced over at Vikuth as he waited for her decision. She knew that as a future queen, she’d have to make decisions like this and some much harder.

“Banish her. She’ll no longer be a member of Rhodack Gahnoth’s harem,” she announced, walking toward Vikuth. Her voice grew strong and echoed around them. “Or Clan Gahnoth.”

Gasps filled the air from the observers. There was no way she would order the female’s death. Not for being passionate about Rhodack’s well-being.

No, but she’d exile her away from Rhodack and the lair. She eyed the woman and knew she’d never be safe with her around.

“Nielsen, take her and escort her out of my sight,” Vikuth snarled, tossing the woman to the ground.

The first guard moved past Rina and marched over to Avalena.

“You can’t keep him from me!” Avalena screamed, struggling against Nielsen when he picked her up by her arm. “When he returns, he’ll come for me, and you’ll be sorry!”

Rina felt pity in her chest watching Nielsen drag her off. She shook her head and caught Vikuth’s gaze.

He walked to her. “Let’s go.”